If Contra Costa County stays on track in its fight against COVID-19, residents may be able to celebrate New Year’s Eve without masks indoors if they’re fully vaccinated.
Health officer Chris Farnitano told the county board of supervisors on Tuesday that other Bay Area counties will lift indoor mask requirements at businesses like restaurants and gyms once three health standards are met.
In order to qualify, Contra Costa must enter the yellow tier of infection rate as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and have fewer than 95 hospitalizations countywide. The county must also have a vaccination rate of at least 80 percent or be eight weeks past the date that vaccines are eligible for children ages 5 to 11 years old, which could be as early as Oct. 26, he said.
As of Monday, Contra Costa has 69 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 72 percent of residents are vaccinated.
“If current data trends continue, Contra Costa may enter the yellow tier of transmission as soon as the end of this month and may meet all the criteria by December or early January,” Farnitano told the board.
“It really depends on the actions of our community,” Farnitano sad. “The more people who get vaccinated, the more people who are safe and wear masks, the faster we will get to getting these metrics met and getting to the place where we can all start safely taking off our masks.”
County Health Services Director Anna Roth told the board the numbers are headed the right direction.
“Cases in our community are going down,” Roth sad. “Over the past two weeks our rates have dropped 34 percent overall and hospitalizations by 15 percent. As of yesterday, we had 69 people in the hospital. Just over a month ago we had 186, which was nearly three times the amount we had yesterday, so we’re seeing great improvement.”
65 comments
If you include those who have already had Covid we’re probably already past 80%.
They sure don’t want to talk about natural immunity. And the word is natural is better than the shot. I got both, but if I know what I know now I would have skipped the shot.
At least 80%. I think it’s safe to say some people had it and didn’t know it either.
But people have gotten COVID multiple times. Why would we include people who have COVID in the percentage of people who are at a reduced risk?
@Chuq…
Sigh. I don’t know where to start. People can get reinfected, yes. It happens, though it is uncommon. But they are very well protected against serious disease in that case.
And guess what? You can get infected after vaccination! If that is surprising to you, that’s the media’s fault. Breakthrough infections are quite common. Thankfully they are more likely to be mild or moderate.
In both cases immunity is not perfect. But it’s effective.
@Basger, this is why I would like to see the $1 antigen tests in the store that were developed last year and still not in the marketplace. Gates and Soros bought the company. Did they do that to keep it off the market?
Some people may have also had a light cold or flu symptoms last year and wonder if the was covid and their usual routine for dealing with those stomped on it.
@Bobfished
Actually that is 100% not true as less then 1/3 get immunity after getting covid. I get people don’t know how immunity works but your body as to be able to produce it and most don’t.
@Led
Breakthrough are not quite common. Just because you hear on the news that a few hundred people out of over 400 million have gotten 1 shot and over 170 million have had 2 doses doesn’t mean it’s common. You just fell into your own trap as you just said “That’s the media’s fault”
@Basger
I don’t think it’s safe to say that as the death rate would be so much higher we wouldn’t even be open right now.
@ ME
not suprised you are wrong again .. but, yeah.
So the National Institute of Health, https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/lasting-immunity-found-after-recovery-covid-19 says 95% of theose that recovered still have durable memories of the virus 8 months after infection. Granted this article is 9+ months old.
This article, written in May, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01442-9, suggests simillar stats.
This article, from Sept, https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-long-does-covid-19-immunity-last/ (you would like this one as it supports part of what you preach) says only 36% did not become immune.
That is three articles contradicting your less than 1/3 get immunity. Please provide your sources …
As for the deathrate, you mean that artificially inflated statistic because they reported heart attacks and motor vehicle accidnets as COVID deaths .. yeah, I believe that the death rate would be lower if politicians and media had not been in it to sell fear and panic, and had actually been concerned with the population.
@me
You should change your name to @MI for “Miss Information” It really is a much better fit.
@Me,
Lol, this isn’t some esoteric knowledge. Why do you think people are talking about boosters? To head off black swan events? Just go look at the case rate for fully vaccinated people on the county site. It is low but it still shows up quite clearly on the graph. Read it yourself. Or here is a Kaiser study:
“Effectiveness against infections declined from 88% during the first month after full vaccination to 47% at 5 to 6 months.”
https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/our-story/health-research/news/pfizer-biontech-covid-vaccine-effectiveness-wanes-over-time
Maybe you have some nonstandard definition of ‘common,’ but since efficacy against symptomatic infection falls to around 50% after several months, then yes, breakthrough infections are common. You are half as likely as an unvaxxed person to get a symptomatic infection. Breakthroughs are common but mild. Why is it hard to acknowledge that?
The big question is, can we get Herr Farnitano by the end of the year? I think if we got rid of him, our chances to get out from under his dictatorship thumb would greatly improve.
@Bobfished,
He does not care about those who have already had it … that does not fit his agenda. If he took those into consideration, he could not continue to live in the spotlight …
parent –
I disagree with your statement because the unvaccinated should have choices too.
Recall Farnitano!!
Jim
Not sure where the disagreement is.
People should be allowed to have a choice on whether to take the vaccine or not take the vaccine.
I am saying, if we get rid of Herr Farnitano, we would be allowed to get out of his ‘mandates’.
You know that a vaccine is effective when two vaccinated people have to both wear masks just to be in the same room together.
When New Years comes, make sure to remember that it’s just two weeks to flatten the curve.
With every policy decision of the O’Biden administration failing so miserably, Covid is all they have to hang onto power. No crisis goes to waste with this crowd.
Would be safe to say,?,….that this virus will be treated more like a Flu in the Future. With the virus mutating, and maybe less deadly to certain population, it will be Wonderful to get back to a normal way of Life.
Hoping for a Bright & Happy New Year, without worries,…. 🙂
We would never have lost our normal way of life if liberals had not used covid as a power grab.
Two weeks to flatten the curve? This was the agenda all along,
I don’t take orders from county health communists, no masks for me.
I’m with you, Mitch.
If we see each other out and about, I’ll be sure to give you a big 😁
Let the flip flop games begin
The whole dem government
Is trying the seperate the states
Trying to break up the republic
Using any and all anti America companies based here to do it
Throwing our money at them to do it
Why else would we need trillions of dollars when we have been fine with around 100 billion for the last 15 years
We’ll binbiden den has to pay the playas
The people who want to throw you away so they can get money
Your allowing g your own demise
As well as your children being brought up by pedophiles and bias racist teachers who hate America
As the gov is lowering background checks and teaching credentials to bring in more teachers that will help destroy us
With the new regulations allowing for criminals to teach as well
Who would have thought that a dem voter would love to have criminals and under grads and drop outs teach their children to hate
Can’t make this up
Oh and you now can’t stop them because parents who oppose are now
Lol labeled domestic terrorists
It if they geared up and threw fire at buildings and destroyed property
They would be just protesting
Can’t make this up
This is what you wanted
Don’t they mean 15 days? It’s not about cases going down. Remember, slow the spread. Don’t overwhelm the hospitals. Flatten the curve. Asking for a friend. Joke. Total joke.
No one loves masks more then the criminal.
We were told to wear masks because they protect other people. And the vaccine isn’t intended to stop the spread, but merely to lessen severe symptoms. So if anyone has to keep wearing masks, shouldn’t it be the vaccinated, in order to protect the unvaccinated?
Good one, but I don’t want nor need protection. Had close family members who had covid over the summer, coughing and sneezing on me for a two weeks. I didn’t even get a sniffle. Covid is so transmissible? We are being lied to.
How can it go down to 72% when just a couple of weeks ago all the local news was showing that all Bay Area counties were 80% and higher?
Switch and Bait, Misdirection
See the numbers they were showing before was 80+% of the *eligible* population.
The numbers they are showing now is the *total* population.
Switch and Bait, Misdirection
Yes, the point is to manufacture support for vaccinating young kids. They hold out the carrot and then say, oh no your percentage is too low, but once kids get vaxxed you’ll clear the bar.
A free people wouldn’t put up with the idea that there is a permanent state of emergency that puts public health officers in charge, so they can govern by diktat.
It’s beyond ridiculous that this is how we are being governed over a year and a half into this business. The Bay Area is no longer at risk for Covid as a major source of mortality. We are as vaccinated as Denmark, which removed all of its Covid restrictions.
Power doesn’t give itself up. It has to be taken back. That’s what it comes down to. The people need to make it clear that a permanent state of emergency is unacceptable.
BINGO!
As long as America’s borders are open, in addition to “BRANDON”,
LET’S GO, CONTRA COSTA HEALTH OFFICIALS!!!
you do realize that America’s borders always have been “open” using your terminology?
The generally accepted measure for illegal border crossing is apprehensions. Here is a graph of Southwestern Border Apprehensions by year.
https://tinyurl.com/4da43jjx
@jwb
Typical establishment shill post. Twitter and FB are chocked full of posters like you who almost word for word repeat the same posts. This is an echo chamber post.
The border is wide open. Cartels are making a fortune smuggling humans because of joe biden and space zombie harris. Anyone denying it at this point is just a liar, and there are many.
And alot of ’em are paid to do it!
You can get paid to say anything on line, not just politics either.
There are companies that will pay you to talk about products, pose as a shopper and ask questions that they can answer to promote products.
There are websites that will pay you to post things to make the site more interesting.
Right now, posting derogatory things about rival political parties in the Philippines is paying pretty well…
Just search “Who will pay me to post things online” you’ll see.
There are all kinds of opportunities for political hacks, liars and other unscrupulous people to make money by being a phony online.
@Sam
So you have no argument only a propaganda talking point? Now if the border is wide open why would the Cartels make a fortune smuggling humans? Wouldn’t they just walk across the wide open border?
Yeah, we’ve always had massive camps of migrants under Texas overpasses. Always thousands from Haiti alone. Nothing to see here! La la la, I’m not listening!
@jwb
Oh my god dude, yes you lie. biden’s open border policy makes the job easy. That’s it. 10k a pop. If you actually cared you would know. What do you get .50 cents a post? You’re beyond ridiculous. You think this is defendable behavior? You shill here every day for every unpopular establishment issue. Nobody ever sides with you. What’s that tell you?
If you’re a good boy we’ll give you a good boy pass for taking the good boy injection and then you can have your rights back.
Sorry we know you’ve been a good boy but we have to take your rights away again. But we’ll give them back by the end of the year, maybe, I promise. Just keep on being a good boy. Btw, did you get your third good boy shot? Wouldn’t want to be a bad boy, now would you? We’re going to punish them even worse than we punish good boys.
I watched the proceedings yesterday and it was apparent their minds were already made up. It was just the same old butt covering that many mediocre leaders do. Seems like word went out to their buddies after calls coming in were overwhelmingly against the measure to get them to call in or do a video call. Farnitano does not impress me at all and is just another ‘yes’ man.
Yes we don’t want to see disinformation spread especially government disinformation.
The video of yesterday’s meeting is up. Go to:
https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/
Scroll down to Video/Media and click on it.
Click on:
‘Watch live streams and videos of Board of Supervisors meetings”
You can watch or download the video.
Thanks for posting the video..I, too, watched it live and the passionate public commenters were not taken into account as they were labeled ‘vocal minority.’ 70 citizens opposed proclamation, 6 for (ex-county employees and those waiting to talk about Measure X)…
Folks, if you have the time to watch, I would recommend it. And, we do have groupthink on the Board of Supervisors!
So now it is no longer about the number of covid + but about those that choose not get jabbed.
So in order for the masks to go away everyone has to have the shot even if they don’t want to.
WTF
For the fun of it, the tinfoil hat theory is they want to turn us all into obedient robots by remodeling us through the mRNA in the vaccines. Sounds crazy doesn’t it?
Its a classic power grab move. Convince the vaccinated that the unnvaccinated are evil, selfish, and immoral. Doesn’t matter your reason for not getting the shot (Don’t tread on me belief, already got COVID and have antibodies, religious/medical exemptions). Its just another way to control us and not thinking about why the govt has kept all this newfound power
Who in their right mind believes ANYTHING these people have to say?
LOL! Seriously we have to wait until then even though our numbers are good?!!!
In other words, the mask mandate will never, ever go away. Congratulations Californians, you voted for this.
“It really depends on the actions of our community,” Farnitano said.
If anyone thinks at this point the community has any say in this whole charade, jokes on you. These dictators have no intention of ever giving up the amount of control they now have. Improvement, based on their standards will only usher in new fear tactics and continued restrictions. They’ll get you to blame anyone other than them. Stop falling for it, please!
After the Russian Civil War (1917–1923), the Bolsheviks took control. They were dedicated to a version of Marxism developed by Vladimir Lenin. It promised the workers would rise, destroy capitalism, and create a socialist utopia under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
hmmmm now wonder the dems want to destroy history
so they can repeat the take over scheme
i am sure this has been mentioned
but if so many weak minded dem voters want to be ruled like Russians and
china communist slaves
why dont they move there it all ready has everything they want
china has a large coast
russia has great skiing and you can visit germany and their socialist revolters
why if any dem voter can tell us
what is your deal with wanting to destroy the only free country
why do you want criminals roaming the streets and ransacking stores legally
help the republic understand why socialism and rich monarchies are better
why are corrupt boards and councils and schools and dem politicians the right way to do things here
please help us understand ……….
In other words, it’s never going away!
Oh goody! They are dangling a carrot! Let’s be good boys and girls! Only 100 more days until we aren’t required to wear masks!
Just spoke to my neighbor who is a charge nurse in the covid unit. 1 in 3 of her patients is fully vaccinated in her ICU. Back when they said children didn’t get it , she had an 11 year old, a 14 year old, and a 16 year old die. She is visibly not well. She said we are trained to deal with death, we see it everyday but what we are not used to is seeing children lined up on ventilators and dying. It is taking its toll on the medical staff. One day I seen her at our book club. She had just gotten off of a double shift and was trembling. She said she couldn’t stay and was just dropping off a borrowed book. She was thin to begin with and has lost at least 20 more pounds. She had been working on a young teen for most of her shift and said she doesn’t think she was going to see them tomorrow as tears went down her face as she walked away.
Another friend at a different hospital is a charge nurse and he has become hardened and turned inward. He got a dog and is trying to get through the emotional toll as well. His relationships with most people are suffering.
With all of these crazy bills politicians are signing , how about we give them a big bonus or big raise so they can take a vacation, get wonderful mental health help, and whole body wellness. I would like my tax dollars to go to this instead of the homeless, needles, and buying drugs for addicts.
I am not for or against the vaccine, to each their own. I do not have the magic answer or solution. I just want us to see some of the issues that are not really talked about.
Be safe and be kind
Um, that is very sad but, no offense, a little hard to believe. 26 people in that age range have died in the whole state from Covid, during the whole pandemic. And your neighbor treated three of them? Where does she work? At Children’s in Oakland?
@ano
Lies, lies, and more lies. Your post is worthless garbage full of propaganda. Hospital workers furloughed and used up their vacations is more like it. I have friends and family all over working in hospitals. Nothing but empty beds this whole time. Nobody asked your opinion on forced medical treatments. If they are stressed out from making dancing tick toc videos, that’s another story. What a disgusting propaganda piece. newsom will get your .50 cent piece. Sell out.
Sam ,
I think you miss understood what I was saying but first let me make it perfectly clear , I would never vote for Newsom. It is very ignorant of you to assume that. Both of these nurses work with only covid and the sickest of patients. If you would of read my post you would of seen that I am not for or against the vaccine nor was the post about that.
Right now the busiest departments in the hospital are covid and labor and delivery. In most other departments there are empty beds as many people are waiting to get basic tests and screenings done.
The videos you are referring to are likely made in the less busy departments because in the Covid units you can not have your phone or anything but your scrubs and PPE.
As to how big of a problem covid is is not for me decide but I am saying it is taking its toll on the 2 nurses working from day 1 in the covid unit and their coworkers.
I will say I went to urgent care to get stitches and there were 17 people waiting to get their notes for school because of covid. I read one it says you can return to school in 10 days, If your school requires a negative test before returning come back……
I asked the nurse who was taking my vitals if she had it and she said yes, she had covid and the vaccine. She said she was on a ventilator and had complications so she was given medications. I asked how this office was treating people to which she responded each doctor approaches it differently. Some give meds and some do not.
Note.. I specifically asked her and other people there just to get information so if my family does get it I can have more info. When I called the office to see if they were busy she said yes extremely and I said are you busy with covid and she said yes all of them. I asked her how can I be safe going there. She said they take non covid patients into a room immediately. I asked if they could just put my stitches in outside and she said she wished.
Obviously urgent care and hospitals are where you will find people with covid so please do not think I am saying covid is or is not a huge deal. I am just passing on the information given.
we now know why
they built a mass fortress
around the biden house
after he moved in
Flatten the curve…
Who gives a rat’s behind what the Health Department might “let” us do? If you want to celebrate indoors without a mask, then do it. Nobody needs their permission.
Time to get rid of Dr. FART. These people are despicable and running lives. 6 people made a unilateral decision for 1.1 million people to show vaccine passports or a negative covid test. These same people have NEVER missed a paycheck, nor have they had a depressed child or teenager close to taking their own life, nor a parent they couldn’t see for over a year in a nursing home, etc. It is obvious that we are being played by an elite club. Knock it off and do your actual job. Who is sick of the rise in crime Let’s? Who is sick of the homeless littered on the sidewalks in Concord?
How can we remove this board? How can we the people take back control of our health department and board of supervisors. These are the important questions.
It’s not easy to get rid of the entrenched public servants. The last time I heard ‘vocal minority’ used to describe concerned citizens exercising their First Amendment was in the Clayton City Council chambers. For over a decade we had groupthink until 2018 when an incumbent was defeated at the ballot box…then 2020 another incumbent defeated in addition to a 26 year councilwoman deciding not to run. There are consequences to not listening to your constituents—I hope you hear this, Board of Supervisors!
They lied to us about the number of people who were sick and in the hospital or had died from Covid, couldn’t they just lie about how many are vaccinated in our county and lift the mandate?
So how do the boosters come into play here? If someone was vaxxed last January, would they they still be considered vaxxed this January or would they fall off the a-list and be counted as unvaxxed? Or how about someone in the “vulnerable” category who opted not to get a booster? Is that 80% those are are current on vaxxes or 80% of the entire population who ever got vaxxed, even though their so called protection has waned or is nonexistent? And let me guess, the homeless and illegal are exempt.
This whole thing is so obviously flawed and unscientific. Why are people rolling over for this nonsense?!?!?
Led, I hardly need to post on this subject anymore. You are the boss. Every comment spot-on. Keep it up!
Well, well, well, Dr. Farnitano’s heart grew three sizes…we have a new mask order effective November 1!
https://cchealth.org/press-releases/2021/1014-Contra-Costa-to-Lift-Masking-Requirements-in-Some-Indoor-Settings-on-Nov-1.php
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